Patents by Inventor Tomokazu Kake

Tomokazu Kake has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230408833
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: generating virtual space images by specifying from among a plurality of viewpoint positions and a plurality of directions of line of sight in the virtual space; and displaying the virtual space images on a head-mounted display, where the generating includes changing from a currently selected viewpoint position among the plurality of viewpoint positions to a newly selected viewpoint position among the plurality of viewpoint positions, which is selected in accordance with operation by a user, when generating the virtual space images in response to changing to the newly selected viewpoint position, the display control section specifies a new direction of line of sight among the plurality of directions of line of sight, and at least some of the plurality of viewpoint positions are separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kake, Takayuki Ishida, Akira Suzuki, Yasuhiro Watari
  • Patent number: 11768383
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: generating virtual space images by specifying from among a plurality of viewpoint positions and a plurality of directions of line of sight in the virtual space; and displaying the virtual space images on a head-mounted display, where the generating includes changing from a currently selected viewpoint position among the plurality of viewpoint positions to a newly selected viewpoint position among the plurality of viewpoint positions, which is selected in accordance with operation by a user, when generating the virtual space images in response to changing to the newly selected viewpoint position, the generating includes specifying, as a new direction of line of sight among the plurality of directions of line of sight, a direction in which a first position in the virtual space is seen from the newly selected viewpoint position, and at least some of the plurality of viewpoint positions are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kake, Takayuki Ishida, Akira Suzuki, Yasuhiro Watari
  • Patent number: 11416975
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus constructs a virtual space to express a subject by acquiring an image obtained by observing a reality space in which one or more subjects are present, and arranging a plurality of unit volume elements at positions that are determined depending on a subject captured in the acquired image, and the information processing apparatus constructs a virtual space by arranging multiple types of unit volume elements with different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kake, Satoshi Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20220152500
    Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus connected to an operating apparatus and to an information processing apparatus. The operating apparatus receives an operation performed by a user. The information processing apparatus performs information processing based on an operation performed by the user at the operating apparatus. The control apparatus receives operation-related information indicating an operation performed by the user at the operating apparatus, acquires setting information regarding an operation content receivable by the operating apparatus, processes the received operation-related information according to the acquired setting information, and outputs the processed operation-related information to the information processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Tomokazu KAKE, Kentarou SUZUKI, Yukari KONISHI, Tatsuaki HASHIMOTO, Tsubasa UMEKI, Yuki KON, Kazuteru FUKAYAMA, Takuya KUJI
  • Patent number: 11250592
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus acquires, in regard to a subject in a three-dimensional space, unit element information including information regarding a position, in the space, of each of plural unit elements configuring the subject, draws a space image indicative of a state of a virtual space in which the plural unit elements are arranged using the unit element information, and specifies a posture of the subject in the three-dimensional space on the basis of a result obtained by executing a posture estimation process targeting a two-dimensional image for the drawn space image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kake, Satoshi Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20210223558
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: generating virtual space images by specifying from among a plurality of viewpoint positions and a plurality of directions of line of sight in the virtual space; and displaying the virtual space images on a head-mounted display, where the generating includes changing from a currently selected viewpoint position among the plurality of viewpoint positions to a newly selected viewpoint position among the plurality of viewpoint positions, which is selected in accordance with operation by a user, when generating the virtual space images in response to changing to the newly selected viewpoint position, the generating includes specifying, as a new direction of line of sight among the plurality of directions of line of sight, a direction in which a first position in the virtual space is seen from the newly selected viewpoint position, and at least some of the plurality of viewpoint positions are separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kake, Takayuki Ishida, Akira Suzuki, Yasuhiro Watari
  • Patent number: 11042038
    Abstract: A display control apparatus includes a display control section that generates a virtual space image by specifying a viewpoint position and a direction of line of sight and displays the image on a head-mounted display. The display control section can specify a plurality of positions in the virtual space as viewpoint positions and can change the viewpoint position to a position determined from among the plurality of positions in accordance with an attitude of the head-mounted display, and when the viewpoint position is changed, the display control section specifies, as a direction of line of sight, the direction in which a first position in the virtual space is seen from the changed viewpoint position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kake, Takayuki Ishida, Akira Suzuki, Yasuhiro Watari
  • Patent number: 11002973
    Abstract: A display control apparatus includes a display control section that generates a virtual space image by specifying a viewpoint position and a direction of line of sight and displays the image on a head-mounted display. The display control section can specify a plurality of positions in the virtual space as viewpoint positions and can change the viewpoint position to a position determined from among the plurality of positions in accordance with an attitude of the head-mounted display, and when the viewpoint position is changed, the display control section specifies, as a direction of line of sight, the direction in which a first position in the virtual space is seen from the changed viewpoint position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kake, Takayuki Ishida, Akira Suzuki, Yasuhiro Watari
  • Patent number: 10957106
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus connected to a display device to be mounted on the head of a user acquires panoramic image data representing a captured image around the user and generates background image data representing the panoramic image data projected onto a projection plane having a predetermined shape that is virtually disposed around the position of a user's viewpoint in a virtual space. The image processing apparatus synthesizes model image data generated on the basis of predetermined three-dimensional model data with the background image data, thereby generating synthesized image data, and outputs a visual field image of the user generated on the basis of the synthesized image data to the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakajima, Tomokazu Kake
  • Publication number: 20210012529
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus acquires, in regard to a subject in a three-dimensional space, unit element information including information regarding a position, in the space, of each of plural unit elements configuring the subject, draws a space image indicative of a state of a virtual space in which the plural unit elements are arranged using the unit element information, and specifies a posture of the subject in the three-dimensional space on the basis of a result obtained by executing a posture estimation process targeting a two-dimensional image for the drawn space image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Tomokazu KAKE, Satoshi NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 10762715
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus that constructs a virtual space by acquiring a plurality of images obtained by observing, at different times, a reality space in which one or more subjects are present, and arranging a plurality of unit volume elements at positions determined depending on a subject captured in each image of the plurality of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kake, Satoshi Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20200202627
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus that constructs a virtual space by acquiring a plurality of images obtained by observing, at different times, a reality space in which one or more subjects are present, and arranging a plurality of unit volume elements at positions determined depending on a subject captured in each image of the plurality of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Tomokazu KAKE, Satoshi NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 10642349
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided that allows a user to execute, when a video image is displayed on a video image display apparatus worn on the head of the user, interactions with video images more intuitively. An information processing apparatus 10, connected to a video image display apparatus 40 worn on the head of a user, acquires information of a relative position of at least a part of the body of the user with reference to a position of the video image display apparatus 40 and displays, on the video image display apparatus 40, a video image indicative of a situation in which an object corresponding to the part is arranged at a position in a virtual space, the position being determined in accordance with the acquired relative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kake, Tsutomu Kouno, Hiroya Matsugami
  • Publication number: 20190318462
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus constructs a virtual space to express a subject by acquiring an image obtained by observing a reality space in which one or more subjects are present, and arranging a plurality of unit volume elements at positions that are determined depending on a subject captured in the acquired image, and the information processing apparatus constructs a virtual space by arranging multiple types of unit volume elements with different sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Tomokazu KAKE, Satoshi NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 10427033
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus includes a position control section and a display control section. The position control section controls a position of an object arranged in a virtual 3D space based on a relative position between an input apparatus used by a user wearing a head-mounted display and the head-mounted display. The display control section generates an image in the virtual 3D space including the object and displays the image on the head-mounted display. When a distance between the input apparatus and the head-mounted display is equal to a first distance or more, the position control section linearly changes the object position in response to a change in position of the input apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kake, Takayuki Ishida, Akira Suzuki, Yasuhiro Watari
  • Publication number: 20190259211
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus connected to a display device to be mounted on the head of a user acquires panoramic image data representing a captured image around the user and generates background image data representing the panoramic image data projected onto a projection plane having a predetermined shape that is virtually disposed around the position of a user's viewpoint in a virtual space. The image processing apparatus synthesizes model image data generated on the basis of predetermined three-dimensional model data with the background image data, thereby generating synthesized image data, and outputs a visual field image of the user generated on the basis of the synthesized image data to the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Satoshi NAKAJIMA, Tomokazu KAKE
  • Publication number: 20180373349
    Abstract: A display control apparatus includes a display control section, a space information acquisition section, and a reporting section. The display control section generates a virtual space image by specifying a viewpoint position and a direction of line of sight and displays the image on a head-mounted display. The space information acquisition section acquires information related to a position of an object existing in a space around a user wearing the head-mounted display. The reporting section informs the user that the object exists around the user when a distance between the head-mounted display and the object becomes smaller than a given value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Yasushi OKUMURA, Tomokazu KAKE, Takayuki ISHIDA, Akira SUZUKI, Yasuhiro WATARI
  • Publication number: 20180329215
    Abstract: A display control apparatus includes a display control section that generates a virtual space image by specifying a viewpoint position and a direction of line of sight and displays the image on a head-mounted display. The display control section can specify a plurality of positions in the virtual space as viewpoint positions and can change the viewpoint position to a position determined from among the plurality of positions in accordance with an attitude of the head-mounted display, and when the viewpoint position is changed, the display control section specifies, as a direction of line of sight, the direction in which a first position in the virtual space is seen from the changed viewpoint position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kake, Takayuki Ishida, Akira Suzuki, Yasuhiro Watari
  • Publication number: 20180318703
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus includes a position control section and a display control section. The position control section controls a position of an object arranged in a virtual 3D space based on a relative position between an input apparatus used by a user wearing a head-mounted display and the head-mounted display. The display control section generates an image in the virtual 3D space including the object and displays the image on the head-mounted display. When a distance between the input apparatus and the head-mounted display is equal to a first distance or more, the position control section linearly changes the object position in response to a change in position of the input apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kake, Takayuki Ishida, Akira Suzuki, Yasuhiro Watari
  • Patent number: 9996152
    Abstract: In an interface apparatus for presenting a force sense at a remote place or in a virtual space to a user, the number of motors for exerting force upon fingers of the user is decreased. The interface apparatus includes a first arm and a second arm for being attached to the thumb and a finger other than the thumb, respectively. A motor includes a motor main body supported for rotation, and a rotary shaft that relatively rotates with respect to the motor main body. The rotary shaft is connected to the second arm. The motor main body is connected to the first arm so as to impart rotation thereof to the first arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Shigeo Hirose, Hiroaki Ishida, Takeshi Yamagishi, Tomokazu Kake, Keiji Togawa